CLOSE POLLING.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 146, 5 June 1913, Page 6

CLOSE POLLING.

AN UNWORKABLE MAJORITY. WHICHEVER SIDE WINS. THE LEADERS KEEP SILENT. Sy duty. Jun*? I. As later returns arrive it is evident that the poll has been heavy everywhere. Estimated in round numbers the votes cast in the 72 contested electorates up to this morning were about 200,000. The absent voters have not yet been counted. They range from a i few in some cases to several thousands in others, such as Perth, so that even a number of the elections counted safe are not altogether out of the stage of doubt. Whichever party wins it is apparent that the margin will be so narrow that the position of the new House will be unsatisfactory and precarious. Messrs. Fisher and Cook decline to express a definite opinion until the position is better defined. Mr. Hughes predicts a deadlock if the final returns give the Liberals a majority. They can pass no laws with which the Senate, which has an overwhelming Labour majority, does not agree, and cannot even get supply. One thing is certain, that responsible government in such circumstances is impossible. LIBERAL PROSPECTS. A ONE TO THREE MARCIN. The Illawarra and Ballarat seats are still see-sawing. In the former the Liberal has pulled the Labour lead down to 119. In Ballarat the Labour candidate is leading by 8 votes. On present figures and with the stipulation that absent votes may upset some calculations, the “Sydney Morning Herald” makes the position as follows :—Liberals 38, Labour 35, doubtful 2. The “Daily Telegraph's” estimate is as follows :—Liberals 38, Labour 37. The balance of opinion seems m fav._..ii- of Labour winning both the I uouutful seats, and the final figures i giving the Liberals a majority of one. RESULT UNKNOWN FOR EIGHT DAYS. (Received 5, 19.20 a.m.) J une 5. It is unlikely that the complete [ figures for the eEction will be avail- > able before the end of next week. I The delay is caused by the absen- | tees’* votes as illustrated by the fact ; that at the Sydney Town Hall votes ! were polled for every electorate in j the Commonwealth excepting one. : and these have to be sent by post. -

STRONG LABOUR SENATE. ! Sydney. June 4. The Senate figures are largely incomplete in ail the States. In New South A\ uies the returns to date are:—Gould, 3U5.224 : Molen 298.729 ; Oakes. 237.547. The nearest Labour candidate is Grant with 256.371. Victoria. —Russell. 275.662 : Barnes 269.598': McKessick, 288.597. The nearest Liberal has secured. 267.061 votes. Queensland.— Maughan. 104Ji49 ; Millan. 102.838; Ferricks. 102.480. The nearest Liberal is Chat away with 95.302. South Australia.—O’Loghlin 90.041 ; Newland. 89.820; Senior, G. 911. The nearest Liberal is Vardon with 76.574. . Western Australia. —Pearce. •■>!.- 750; Needham. 54.103; Lynch, 54.210. The nearest Liberal is Butcher with 47.121. Tasmania.--Kentmg 36.137 ; Itakap 36.119: Clements. 35.112. The nearest Labour candidate is Hurst with 31.789. THE REFERENDA. OPINION EVENLY BALANCED Sydney. June 4. The referenda count is likely to enter st verai nm:e days. The running so far is closer than anticipnu ed. The voting to date on the six questions is as follows : Trade and commerce —Ayes. 457,229 ; noes, 486.713. Corporations—Ayes. 456,631 ; noes, 465,222. Industrial—Ayes, 458,879: noes, 475.250. Railways—Aye*. 450,912; noes, 464.264. Trusts—Ayes. 460.668; noes, 459,439. Monopolies —Ayes, *3*.24. ; noes, 443,770. THE POSITION ALTERED. ■ YES” NOW LEADS. (Received 5. 10.20 a.m.) Sydney. June 5. The referenda position has altered and ‘ Yes” has the majority on all questions on the total vote and is lea.i pi t. four States. These are the two conditions required for the • ;rm poposals. but it is too early yer to regard the result as certain as many thousand votes are «t HI out. The counting of the absent,re:c- is proceeding slowly.